Joe Gibbs Racing’s newest star shattered a decades-long drought with a record-setting run—now, can he back it up with a win?
Chase Briscoe has arrived—and he’s making sure everyone in NASCAR knows it. In a career-defining moment, the Indiana native blazed his way to pole position for the Daytona 500, setting the fastest lap at 182.745 mph in the No. 19 Toyota Camry XSE.
Briscoe’s lightning-fast 49.249-second lap at Daytona International Speedway not only cemented his place in history but also ended a 27-year pole drought for Joe Gibbs Racing (JGR). The last time JGR took the top spot at the “Great American Race”? Bobby Labonte in 1998.
Even more historic? Briscoe delivered Toyota’s first-ever Daytona 500 pole, a milestone moment for the manufacturer that has long chased success at the sport’s most legendary track.
A Dream Start for Briscoe at JGR
For Briscoe, this is more than just a pole—it’s a statement.
After replacing retiring NASCAR champion Martin Truex Jr. during the offseason, expectations were high. But few could have predicted that Briscoe would immediately outshine veteran teammates like Denny Hamlin and Christopher Bell in his JGR debut.
“It’s a great way to start our season. Unbelievable way to start off the year. Unbelievable way to start off with Toyota,” an ecstatic Briscoe said post-qualifying.
“To be able to be the guy to deliver them the first anything when they’ve already accomplished so much is pretty cool. For our No. 19 group to come here and sit on the pole at the biggest race of the year is pretty special.”
Briscoe has only won one Cup Series race in his career, but now, he’s positioned for the biggest opportunity of his life.
Breaking the JGR Curse—Can Briscoe Make History?
Daytona has been cruel to Joe Gibbs Racing.
Despite winning three Daytona 500s with Denny Hamlin (2016, 2019, 2020), the team has struggled to convert pole positions into victories at the season-opener. The last time JGR won the Daytona 500 from pole? Never.
Even back in 1998, when Bobby Labonte put JGR on pole, it was Dale Earnhardt who stole the show, leading 107 laps en route to his long-awaited victory.
A New Era for Briscoe?
Briscoe’s Daytona pole marks a dramatic turnaround from last season, where he barely made the playoffs, sneaking in with a win at the final race of the regular season.
Now? He’s in prime position to secure a postseason spot on opening weekend.
If Briscoe can maintain this dominant speed on race day, he could pull off a career-defining upset and immediately establish himself as JGR’s new leader.
But history is against him. No driver has won the Daytona 500 from pole since 2000. Can Briscoe defy the odds and break JGR’s superspeedway curse?
One thing is certain: all eyes will be on the No. 19 Toyota Camry when the green flag drops.
